By SHELLY STRAUTZ-SPRINGBORN
Michigan Correspondent

ALMA, Mich. — Brady Brecht sold his steer last week at the Gratiot County Fair for Youth in Alma. But the 14-year-old Elwell teen didn’t just lead the animal through the sale ring. Instead, he took over the auctioneer’s job for a few minutes.

“I auctioned him myself,” Brecht said. “I asked the auctioneer if I could and he said, ‘Come up when you’re ready.’”

Brecht’s steer brought $1.40 per pound. “I think maybe I got a little more because I sold my own,” he said.

A seasoned 4-Her, this wasn’t Brecht’s first auction experience at the fair. Earlier in the week, he and a friend paired up to support other 4-Hers during the annual food auction. “I bet we bid on 50 things and only bought one,” he said. “We bought cookies for $200.”

But, Brecht didn’t buy them because they were his favorite – he bought them to be supportive of other youth. “We wanted to support the kids. I actually didn’t even taste them. My friend ate them,” he said.

Katie Eisenberger, Gratiot County Michigan State University extension 4-H educator, smiled as she recalled some of Brecht’s fair activities. “He’s very passionate about his projects and making sure everybody has a good experience at the fair,” she said. “During the (food) auction, they wanted to make sure everyone’s items sold well, so they just kept bidding on them. They kind of became our entertainment. Everyone got into it.”

At one point during the auction, Eisenberger said, “The auctioneer sat with them and he helped them bid. You just don’t see that every day, but to care so much about other people is something.”
Brecht got his start in 4-H when he was 10. His grandfather had cattle, and his cousin was in 4-H. “My nephew started a year or two before Brady did,” said Brecht’s father, Jeff. “He saw how much fun it would be to show at the fair. I enjoy having him in 4-H. It teaches a lot of responsibility. It’s good for him to have a project to work on in the summer other than taking care of his cows.”

The younger Brecht has attended 4-H Exploration Days at MSU where he learned about A.I. (artificial insemination) and breeding and raising cattle. He also has showed his cattle at the Beef Expo at MSU.

“I think he’s learned a lot from year to year by going to different shows and watching people,” Jeff said. “He’s picked up a lot that has really helped him along. The week before fair, he’s always clipping for someone and helping kids out.”

Brecht is an ambitious teen. He started his own cow-calf herd with one heifer. Now he has eight cow-calf pairs and operates under the Brecht Cattle Co. name. He hopes to expand his herd to be a full-time career.

“I want to go out West and have thousands of cow-calf pairs,” he said.

In the meantime, he enjoys helping his grandfather work on the farm, raising hay and cattle as well as corn and soybeans. Like many entrepreneurs, whatever money Brecht earns, he reinvests in his company. “I’m not sure where I’m going to get the money to buy my steer for next year,” he said. The money he made selling his steer at this year’s fair “is already spent on hay.”

But, he’s thinking about the future. “If I get enough of my own cows, I want to have my own show calf sale,” he said.